Crib Bumper Assembly

ABSTRACT

A crib bumper assembly for reducing potential for impact injury to a child in a crib includes a set of pads. Each pad comprises a shell that defines an interior space. A panel that is positioned in and substantially occupies the interior space comprises a shock absorbing material so that the panel is configured to absorb an impact. Each of a plurality of connectors that is coupled to a circumference of the shell is configured to selectively couple to a crib to removably couple the shell to the crib so that the shell covers a portion of a siderail of the crib. The panel is configured to protect a child who is positioned in the crib from injury due to impact with the portion of the respective siderail.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to child safety devices and more particularly pertains to a new child safety device for reducing potential for impact injury to a child in a crib.

(2) Description of Related Art including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

The prior art relates to child safety devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a set of pads. Each pad comprises a shell that defines an interior space. A panel that is positioned in and substantially occupies the interior space comprises a shock absorbing material so that the panel is configured to absorb an impact. Each of a plurality of connectors that is coupled to a circumference of the shell is configured to selectively couple to a crib to removably couple the shell to the crib so that the shell covers a portion of a siderail of the crib. The panel is configured to protect a child who is positioned in the crib from injury due to impact with the portion of the respective siderail.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a crib bumper assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side cut-away view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new child safety device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the crib bumper assembly 10 generally comprises a set of pads 12. Each pad 12 comprises a shell 14 that defines an interior space 16. The shell 14 may comprise fabric, or other material, such as, but not limited to, plastic, rubber, silicone, and the like. The shell 14 may comprise cotton, or other cloth, such as, but not limited to, polyester, wool, flax, hemp, and the like.

A panel 18 that is positioned in and substantially occupies the interior space 16 comprises a shock absorbing material 20 so that the panel 18 is configured to absorb an impact. The panel 18 may comprise at least one of viscoelastic polymer, rubber, neoprene, silicone, foamed elastomer, and other material that absorb shock. The panel 18 is elongated rectangularly shaped.

Each of a plurality of connectors 22 that is coupled to a circumference 24 of the shell 14 is configured to selectively couple to a crib 26 to removably couple the shell 14 to the crib 26 so that the shell 14 covers a portion 28 of a siderail 30 of the crib 26, as shown in FIG. 4. The panel 18 is configured to protect a child who is positioned in the crib 26 from injury due to impact with the portion 28 of the respective siderail 30. A typical positioning of the shell 14 would be just above a mattress of the crib 26, as shown in FIG. 4. The set of pads 12 may comprise four pads 12, with each pad 12 being selectively couplable to a respective siderail 30.

The plurality of connectors 22 comprises a set of first couplers 32 and a set of second couplers 34. Each first coupler 32 is coupled to a respective opposing end 36 of the shell 14 so that the first coupler 32 is positioned to selectively couple to a respective corner post of the crib 26 to removably couple the shell 14 to the respective corner post. Each second coupler 34 is coupled to a respective opposing edge 38 of the shell 14 so that the second coupler 34 is positioned to selectively couple to a respective slat of the siderail 30 to removably couple the shell 14 to the siderail 30.

The set of first couplers 32 comprises four first couplers 32 that are positioned singly proximate to corners 40 of the shell 14, as shown in FIG. 2. Each first coupler 32 may comprise a first strap 42 so that the first strap 42 is positioned to be knotted with an associated first strap 42 that is positioned on an adjacent shell 14 so that the shell 14 and the associated shell 14 are mutually coupled adjacent to the respective corner post. The first coupler 32 may comprise other fastening means, such as, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, buckles, snap closures, and the like.

The set of second couplers 34 comprises two second couplers 34. Each second coupler 34 is positioned on a respective opposing edge 38 of the shell 14 substantially equally distant from the opposing ends 36. Each second coupler 34 may comprise a pair of second straps 44, as shown in FIG. 2. The pair of second straps 44 is configured to be loopedly positioned around the respective slat of the siderail 30 and to be knotted to removably couple the shell 14 to the siderail 30. The second coupler 34 may comprise other fastening means, such as, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, buckles, snap closures, and the like.

Each of a plurality of apertures 46 extends through the shell 14 and the panel 18 so that the plurality of apertures 46 is configured to allow air to flow through the shell 14 and the panel 18. Air flow increases comfort of the child who is positioned in the crib 26 and the plurality of apertures 46 allows the child to see through the shell 14 and the panel 18. The apertures 46 may be circularly shaped, or shape, such as, but not limited to, squarely shaped, triangularly shaped, and the like. The apertures 46 may be positioned in a plurality of rows 48, or other configuration, such as, but not limited to, random, sinuous, patterned, and the like. Each row 48 extends from proximate to the opposing ends 36 of the panel 18. The plurality of rows 48 may comprise four rows 48, or other number of rows 48, such as, but not limited to, two rows 48, three rows 48, and five rows 48.

In use, the pads 12 are coupled to the crib 26 using the first straps 42 and the second straps 44. The panels 18 are configured to protect the child who is positioned in the crib 26 from injury due to impact with the siderails 30 of the crib 26.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A crib bumper assembly comprising a set of pads, each pad comprising: a shell defining an interior space; a panel positioned in and substantially occupying the interior space, the panel comprising a shock absorbing material wherein the panel is configured for impact absorption; and a plurality of connectors, each connector being coupled to a circumference of the shell wherein the plurality of connectors is configured for selectively coupling to a crib for removably coupling the shell to the crib such that the shell covers a portion of a siderail of the crib wherein the panel is configured for protecting a child positioned in the crib from injury due to impacting the portion of the respective siderail.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, further including the shell comprising fabric.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, further including the shell comprising cotton.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, further including the panel comprising at least one of viscoelastic polymer, rubber, neoprene, silicone, and foamed elastomer.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, further including the panel being elongated rectangularly shaped.
 6. The assembly of claim 5, further including the plurality of connectors comprising a set of first couplers and a set of second couplers, each first coupler being coupled to a respective opposing end of the shell such that the first coupler is positioned for selectively coupling to a respective corner post of the crib for removably coupling the shell to the respective corner post, each second coupler being coupled to a respective opposing edge of the shell such that the second coupler is positioned for selectively coupling to a respective slat of the siderail for removably coupling the shell to the siderail.
 7. The assembly of claim 6, further including the set of first couplers comprising four first couplers positioned singly proximate to corners of the shell, each first coupler comprising a first strap such that the first strap is positioned for knotting with an associated first strap positioned on an adjacent shell such that the shell and the associated shell are mutually coupled adjacent to the respective corner post, the set of second couplers comprising two second couplers, each second coupler being positioned on a respective opposing edge of the shell substantially equally distant from the opposing ends, each second coupler comprising a pair of second straps wherein the pair of second straps is configured for loopedly positioning around the respective slat of the siderail and for knotting for removably coupling the shell to the siderail.
 8. The assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of apertures, each aperture extending through the shell and the panel wherein the plurality of apertures is configured air to flow through the shell and the panel.
 9. The assembly of claim 8, further including the apertures being circularly shaped.
 10. The assembly of claim 8, further including the apertures being positioned in a plurality of rows.
 11. The assembly of claim 10, further including each row extending from proximate to opposing ends of the panel.
 12. The assembly of claim 10, further including the plurality of rows comprising four rows.
 13. The assembly of claim 1, further including the set of pads comprising four pads.
 14. A crib and crib bumper assembly combination comprising: a crib; and a set of pads, each pad comprising: a shell defining an interior space, a panel positioned in and substantially occupying the interior space, the panel comprising a shock absorbing material wherein the panel is configured for impact absorption, and a plurality of connectors, each connector being coupled to a circumference of the shell wherein the plurality of connectors is configured for selectively coupling to the crib for removably coupling the shell to the crib such that the shell covers a portion of a siderail of the crib wherein the panel is configured for protecting a child positioned in the crib from injury due to impacting the portion of the respective siderail.
 15. A crib bumper assembly comprising a set of pads, each pad comprising: a shell defining an interior space, the shell comprising fabric, the shell comprising cotton; a panel positioned in and substantially occupying the interior space, the panel comprising a shock absorbing material wherein the panel is configured for impact absorption, the panel comprising at least one of viscoelastic polymer, rubber, neoprene, silicone, and foamed elastomer, the panel being elongated rectangularly shaped; a plurality of connectors, each connector being coupled to a circumference of the shell wherein the plurality of connectors is configured for selectively coupling to a crib for removably coupling the shell to the crib such that the shell covers a portion of a siderail of the crib wherein the panel is configured for protecting a child positioned in the crib from injury due to impacting the portion of the respective siderail, the plurality of connectors comprising a set of first couplers and a set of second couplers, each first coupler being coupled to a respective opposing end of the shell such that the first coupler is positioned for selectively coupling to a respective corner post of the crib for removably coupling the shell to the respective corner post, each second coupler being coupled to a respective opposing edge of the shell such that the second coupler is positioned for selectively coupling to a respective slat of the siderail for removably coupling the shell to the siderail, the set of first couplers comprising four first couplers positioned singly proximate to corners of the shell, each first coupler comprising a first strap such that the first strap is positioned for knotting with an associated first strap positioned on an adjacent shell such that the shell and the associated shell are mutually coupled adjacent to the respective corner post, the set of second couplers comprising two second couplers, each second coupler being positioned on a respective opposing edge of the shell substantially equally distant from the opposing ends, each second coupler comprising a pair of second straps wherein the pair of second straps is configured for loopedly positioning around the respective slat of the siderail and for knotting for removably coupling the shell to the siderail; and a plurality of apertures, each aperture extending through the shell and the panel wherein the plurality of apertures is configured air to flow through the shell and the panel, the apertures being circularly shaped, the apertures being positioned in a plurality of rows, each row extending from proximate to the opposing ends of the panel, the plurality of rows comprising four rows.
 16. The assembly of claim 15, further including the set of pads comprising four pads. 